UPDATED: Alan Clark reference books

I've looked at comic reference books a couple of times before...

i). Dennis Gifford books here (with all Gifford posts here

ii). Lofts & Adley books are here

iii). Dennis Gifford is here 

iv). David Ashford is here

v). Ray Moore is here

vi). Martin Hamer is here

And now it's the turn of Alan Clark...

His very newest book (October 2023) is this one - priced at £30 (including postage) and available from Alan himself - ebay trading name of 'orsonwelles99' right here

His very newest book (December 2022) is entitled BRITISH GOLDEN AGE COMICS. COMIC PAPERS BETWEEN THE WARS 1919-1939 is in fact 2 books, priced at £33 for both and available here

The Laughs of a nation - the publications of Gerald G Swann is available here for £23

Just published (January 2022) is Alan's look at Comic papers of the platinum age, creators & their work: 1874-1914 - available for £25 (inc. postage from Italy)

The books is described as follows...

What is the British Platinum Age? Within these pages it’s defined as 1874-1914. It started with James Henderson’s Funny Folks and ended forty years on with the start of the 1914-1918 war. The Platinum Age was the ‘Big Bang’ of the comic universe. It was when the British comic was invented. It was followed by the ‘war years’, then the ‘nursery years’ After which the publishers created a raft of new titles for older readers. Which in turn paved the way to the Golden Age of the 1930s. That Golden Age crashed spectacularly after war was declared on Germany in September 1939 when once again paper shortages returned and staff and freelancers were again called up to join the forces. It was not until over a decade later that the industry recovered enough to start a Silver Age. That began with Eagle on April 14 1950. The war years, nursery years, the Golden Age and Silver Age are other stories. This book is an homage to the Platinum Age and its amazing publishers, editors, creators, writers and artists who were responsible for it. And which led to everything that followed.

COMIC PAPERS OF THE PLATINUM AGE is a 284 page, small size (A5), non-profit, limited edition publication the purpose of which is to promote and provide information about the editors. artists, writers and publishers of Platinum Age comics and story papers.

Well illustrated with rare titles. Informative text. 284 pages.

Just published (Autumn 2021) - and available here - are this pair of books on the 'golden age' of British comics.

Alan's other books that he's published since Autumn 2020 now all seem to be out of print (apart from 'The fun factory' volume) - so I'd order these books soon if you want them.

Just published (Summer 2021) is this book available from Alan himself at this ebay seller ID (orsonwelles99)

The fun factory of Farringdon Street by Alan Clark

subtitled - a history of Amalgamated Press 1890-1960

Recently published is this book (reviewed here)

From early 2021

From Autumn 2020...

From 1998 the Dictionary of British comic artists, writers and editors

From 1991 - "Comics an illustrated history" by Alan and Laurel Clark

From 1989 "The best of British comic art" by Alan Clark

From 1988 "The children's annual - a history and collector's guide" by Alan Clark

From 1983 - "The comic art of Reg Parlett - 60 years of comics!" by Alan Clark

From 1983 - "The comic art of Roy Wilson" by Alan Clark & David Ashford

as ever...if you spot anything I've missed just let me know

UPDATED: Street Sharks comics (1997)

My ongoing quest to document all '90s comics finally reaches Street Sharks - there was a Street Sharks comic published in the US by Archie Comics. This does not look like a reprint of that. Looks like originated British material in amongst plenty of non-comics content. 

It lasted at least 8 issues - any help filling in the gaps in my covers gallery is much appreciated. 

Update for this post - covers for issue 1, 3 & 6 identified

Street Sharks, issue #1, £1.25

Street Sharks, issue #2, £1.25

image not to hand - can you help?

Street Sharks, issue #3, £1.25

Street Sharks, issue #4, £1.25

Street Sharks, issue #5 £1.25

Street Sharks, issue #6, £1.25

Street Sharks, issue #7, £1.25

image not to hand - can you help?

Street Sharks, issue #8, £1.25

There was also an annual (published by Grandreams)

UPDATED: Battle from Rebellion

To celebrate 'Death Squad' being published by the Treasury of British comics I've re-freshed my list of the Battle branded list of publications from Rebellion...

Thought I'd just try and start collating all the instances where Rebellion Publishing have used the Battle logo - please let me know if I've missed anything...

New items highlighted in red

Operation Overlord
Standalone (so not presented free with the Megazine) comic issues 1-4 of Operation Overlord

Operation Overlord

Presented free with Judge Dredd magazine issue 404 

Presented free with Judge Dredd magazine issue 405

Presented free with Judge Dredd megazine issue 406

Presented free with Judge Dredd megazine issue 407

and then collected together in a single volume...

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Sniper elite: Resistance, Issue 1 - cover A, Patrick Goddard art

Sniper elite: Resistance Issue 1 - cover B, Edouard Groult art

Sniper elite: Resistance Issue 1 - Forbidden Planet variant cover, Ian Kennedy art 

Sniper elite: Resistance Issue 2 - cover A, art by Patrick Goddard & Quinton Winter

Sniper elite: Resistance Issue 2 - cover B, Colin Wilson art

Sniper elite: Resistance Issue 3

Sniper elite: Resistance Issue 3 - cover B, Carlos Ezquerra art 

And then collected together... 

And, pre-dating all of these, was this Sniper elite: Resistance ash-can comic sold at San Diego Comic-con

Battle reprints books

Major Eazy vs Rat Pack - Alan Hebden & Carlos Ezquerra

Major Eazy - the Italian campaign (not yet released)

El Mestizo - Alan Hebden & Carlos Ezquerra

Originally serialised in Battle 4th June 1977-17th September 1977

Death Squad - by Alan Hebden and with art by Carlos Ezquerra & Eric Bradbury

You can order it here

This book collects the Death Squad stories published in Battle Action from 12 July 1980 - 4 June 1981, as well as the Battle Annual 1982.

Invasion 1984! by John Wagner, Alan Grant and Eric Bradbury

Specials

softback, 'holiday special' style publication - Keith Burns cover (2000AD webshop exclusive cover)

softback, 'holiday special' style publication - this was the version available in newsagents 

Mini trade - Lofty's one-man Luftwaffe

This was free with the Judge Dredd Megazine #397 (cover dated 17th July 2018)

Reprinted from Battle issue #1-#18

More recent Battle material

Judge Dredd Megazine #456 reprints issue #1 of the Titan comics Johnny Red comic from November 2015

Judge Dredd Megazine #457 reprints issue #2 of the Titan comics Johnny Red comic from December 2015  

Judge Dredd Megazine #458 reprints issue #3 of the Titan comics Johnny Red comic from January 2016  

Judge Dredd Megazine #459 reprints issue #4 of the Titan comics Johnny Red comic from February 2016  

Judge Dredd Megazine #460 reprints issue #5 of the Titan comics Johnny Red comic from March 2016  

plus it's part of the Battle Action crossover with prog 2350

Battle Action, 5 issue mini series

Battle Action #0, May 2023

very small runs of these were produced, my copy (acquired at Enniskillen comic festival in 2023) is marked as "2nd printing, May 2023"

Battle Action #1, May 2023, webshop exclusive cover

Battle Action #1, May 2023, newsstand cover

Battle Action #1, May 2023, Diamond exclusive cover

this copy signed by Garth Ennis

Battle Action #2, June 2023

Battle Action #3, July 2023

Battle Action #4, August 2023

Battle Action #5, September 2023

Recent books

1). Clash of the guards

the 'regular' edition of this is in paperback; the webshop exclusive (limited to 200 copies) looks the same but is hardback

2). The Sarge

'regular' edition, softback

webshop exclusive hardcover - limited to 200 copies

Battle Action 'annual' 

The regular (hardback) edition

The webshop exclusive hardback edition - Dredger cover by John B Higgins